The Promise of Palm Grove Read Online Free PDF Page B

getting out of trees. Especially not the ones in the front of the Mennonite church. She’s up there all the time.”
    â€œWell, I know that, and you know that. Serena probably knows that, too.”
    â€œBut?”
    Slowly, his lips curved. “But Mrs. Sadler loves that cat. And she was fretting. When she knocked on our door, she was near tears. What could I do?”
    Privately, Effie thought he could have told Mrs. Sadler that Serena had come down from the tree just fine the day before. But she wasn’t Zack. And Zack always put other people first.
    â€œOkay, now I get why you were trying to rescue Serena. How did Leona come into play?”
    â€œShe was walking by the church with her girlfriends and they saw Danny, Jeremy, and me trying to get Serena out. Actually, I was in the tree.”
    She paused. “Wait a minute. You were climbing the tree?”
    â€œOh, jah . I was half stuck in there, too. We were laughing something fierce.” He leaned back and braced his hands on the edge of their table. “It was obvious that Serena didn’t want anything to do with us. However, it was also becomingobvious that some bees, ah, didn’t appreciate us being in their space.”
    â€œOh, Zack. It’s a wonder you three didn’t get stung.”
    He shrugged off her worry. “Next thing I knew, Serena jumped down from the tree limb like it was six inches off the ground instead of six feet, and pranced over to Leona. Right then and there, she rubbed herself against Leona’s legs and meowed. Leona bent down and picked her up, just like that cat was her long-lost friend.”
    Serena wasn’t known for being an especially cuddly cat. That, Effie thought, was one of the reasons she escaped so much. If Mrs. Sadler had her way, Serena would be in her arms or on her lap all day long. “Did Leona get scratched up?”
    â€œ Nee . Fact is, Serena didn’t fight her at all.” He shook his head in wonder. “It was something to see.” He looked beyond Effie again, his gaze settling on Leona.
    â€œI bet. So that’s how you met Leona?”
    â€œYeah. I introduced myself. Well, all three of us boys did. Leona and her friends are down from Ohio on vacation.”
    Effie felt her spirits sink, though she wasn’t quite sure why. The actual population of Pinecraft was pretty small. She didn’t know all the Amish, of course, but she recognized most of the folks who lived in her area. Still, if Leona were a local, Effie would have remembered her. With her blond hair, brown eyes, and high cheek bones, Leona was so very pretty.
    And, judging by the way Zack kept looking in her direction, it was fairly obvious that he thought Leona was attractive, too.
    After their server brought them their drinks, Effie made a decision. “Zack, why don’t you go over and see if they want a tour of the area or something?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAll right. Maybe not a tour. But maybe you could show them how to get on the bus to go to Siesta Key. It’s a little tricky, at least the first time. I mean, everyone says that. And then, since you’ll be on the bus with her, you could go to the beach, too.”
    Something flickered in his eyes before he firmly tamped it down. “I bet she’d think that was a bit much, me going up to her table and offering to take her to the beach.”
    â€œI bet she’d think that was nice. How else is she going to figure things out? I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t ask you to take her.”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t she?”
    Effie rolled her eyes. “Because she’s the girl, Zack. Even I know that answer.”
    â€œI don’t know. I don’t want to say the wrong thing. Or scare her off.”
    â€œYou don’t have to say another word to her if you don’t want. But I kind of think she would be relieved if you offered. Ain’t so?”
    â€œYou think?”
    â€œ Jah .